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"Wfyt €$nSitw>n $f (BncjlantJ aatttgtum." ** Lairs giini the poor, and rich men role the law I"
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Cftarifct finteUwnce.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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"Wfyt €$Nsitw≫N $F (Bncjlantj Aatttgtum." ** Lairs Giini The Poor, And Rich Men Role The Law I"
" Wfyt €$ nSitw > n $ f ( BncjlantJ aatttgtum . " ** Lairs giini the poor , and rich men role the law I "
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XO&S B 1 B . MIKGH-UJ ATROCITIES . Out readers will remember the lengthy report we lately ga ? e in successive nnmbers of this paper , expostog the jpfemous management of the Birmingham workbonse . In the Birmingham Jdveiiiser of lsst week appeared another revelation , even more disgusting than t -at of the sesaes in the workhouse . It appears tint tbere is in Birmingham ( as in many other places ) a " Couit of Beqnests Prisons . " In a case of assault Recently tried before the Recorder of Birmingham , in * nich some of the inmates of the debtor " * prison were atsused of an assault upon a constable , the Bta ^ e and nature of this " prison , " -which might ot-ervrire hare eentinned to « xist in its abominations for aujht that bad been done , or seemed likely to ba done , by the
magistracy of the county , until Doomsday , became dii > cioswi , and horrid -WHre the disclosures . The pri-« un wss described to bs " a confined , ill-ventilated BOXB" ( the area of -which -was sax feet by nine ;) undergrotad , and made out of the ctllar of an old house , and from which the stench -was into ' . eraT-le , " no less ihan three and txeenty prisoners were corfined at the fcmaof theasssoltj and the gaoler deposed that at timo ( here are forty men in the place . " The sleeping department of this abode of punish-Sient 5 s , however , if possible , even worse ; t " -ke the evidence ef , apparently , a most unwilling witness , Mr . Boot , the g 3 oler , who deposed that "in this underground dnngt-on the poor debtors were imprisoned who ix > sot - go through ike Act ~ tbat is . those
who do not taki . the benefit of the Insolvent Debtors ' Act 1 am not , said he , in fear abont those who ' so throngb the Act—they vll remain their time ; tiey trill net run away Vie others trill . The highest amount ¦ which the poor tltbtors , who will run away if they can , »? e > nt in the prison for , is £ 5 . Those debtors all sleep Gbove in one room ; if any onb of them wish to sleep at sight in the place in which they are confine 3 during the uay , they Jio ; one or two of the poor debtors confined iiicre do sleep in ihe underground prison ; they are unable to go upstairs . They have straw to sleep on tip-stairs 1 cannot Bay how large the sleeping-room up- £ tairs is ; 2 neTer measured it ; I cannot * ay whether jt mea-¦ ores more than fiftsan feet They never pay any . thing for the tt .-aw they lie -upon . Theae poor-debtors
do not pay anything lot their night's lodgirjg , unless they want a bed . and then they must pay for iL They do not have a bed unless they pay for' iL I c-umoi nnd beds for nothing . There is a window to the 1 ^ 1-room up fctairs . The prisoners are not locked in their bed-ruomB at night One of the poor debtors stands in the day lime in the nnderground place at the window , and tingles a can . This window at which he BtsnOa is in tHe front of the Court of Beqnests ; it is near tta sntranee door . This window is barred like a ctllar window . He stands there to crave charity ef ptrsons as they come to the Court on business . As he fcagles rie can be Bays , ' Pray remejuber the poor debtors . ' It may bs called a cellar window . The place in ichich ihepoor debtors are confined was a cellar .
" Jir . Miner—In this room up stairs , where twenry-F'ree poor defeic-s sleep at night , there is a ' sort of tcooden bedstead for them to lie upon , similar to a dog" kennel , and they are iiUered doven Uke dogs They have not so much room to steep in as fiow . ds have . They lay ten or eleven on a side in this icaaaL " The Becorder—In & tow ? " Mr . Sliller—Oh no , Sir ; feet to feet Do their £ eet touch , Mi Boot ? " Mr . Baot—1 cannot say whether their feet touch or not . "
It appears thit this den gees by the name of the *• I / jvSB HOLB" ; Mr . Miller , Counsel for one of the prisoner * , in the course vi hi * address , thus graphically described tins abominable den : —*• My Learned Priecd was ^ uite righ t , and the Court was also quite right in saying that it would be jajinr a baa compliment te the owes rs of dogs te * ay thai ibey - * ould treat them so cruelly ; they would not , Gii . tlen . en , treat th « r dogs }* i the manner your poor feiiow-iownsm&n—these nnft . ? nzoate human beings—hare been treated , and fcr no oilier enme than that of being st « eped in poverty and debt ; owing a debt of a few shillings tb ' vy could not pay , canrsd , perkaps , by the purchase of provisions to maintain their unhappy wives and children . Gentlemen , poTErty is no crime ; it is a misfortune—and for
that misfortune your fellow-creatures r » e coBstgned to this den of infamy , and treated worse than any maa } vying claim to the common feelings of humanity could treat dogs . It was fonnd that this place was not even proper for doss , bnt that it w * 5 fit only for the imprisoment of Termin . The Keeper of this prison ha 3 told you that Tulgsrp-rsoDs cave called it by the appellation yon heard trom my Lestned Friend- Now , Gentlemen , I will take the liberty of suggesting ; that Sj loijg ss this prison continnes , it be called by another name , less Talgar ; a name wbich will hare connectoed with iv historical recollections- In barbarous times now psued , * nd I had hoped tonUy p ?*« ed away , it was the practice , h » order to obtain admissions of guilt , that instramenls of the mas" inhaman torture were nsed . It
¦ was found by the use of these hoirible instruments of Y ) rbarian cruelty innocent persons were forced to acknowledge guilt rather than endure the torture . Human nature could not t . ar up tig&iL&t the trial . Ooe of ths instrumentsin-rsnisd by some monster , and used on theseoensions , was a peculiar machine ; an instrument applied to th& foot , and which pressed ths foot in such a manner , that the unfortunate creators ; shrieked out with sgony in aotnowledgmeat of an error or a Crime which be had never committed . Gentlemen , that instrument of torture was called " THB Boot J" and I hops you will allow me to suggest while that den remaina to torture your fellow-creatures , and as its pre-EEnt same i » considered too vulgar , that it bs called 11 Toe Booi i "
We give the very excellent address of the Recorder to the Jury . Sach speeches frem those in * ' authority " give promise of a better state of things . The Learned Recorder then turned to the Jury and addressed them to the following effect : —Gentlemen of the Jury , the learned Counsel who have both addressed yon , with : the highest credit to their feelings of humanity , slid they c ^ uld hardly suppose they were awake . The same ' tiling oppresses my mind at tfcis moment—I wish , < genUeaen , I could perft-ctly awake from it n a mere : dream ; but the painful circumsrances do not pass '< away from the mind as the visions of the night , like all ; other dreams , painful enough at times : but unfonuuattly in this case we have evidence before us proving their reality . It spp ? irs , Gentlemen , that sot less
than twenty-seven of our fellow-subjects had \ an from time to time immured in this horrible dungeon , and su ' rgfccs to the greatest degree of bodily torture -, their Hitural feelings degenerated , and sustaining deep injury both of body and soul ; and , as it had been stated by the Learned Counsel , for no erima -Gentlemen , no person ought to be confined in a dungeon below the earth , 1 had hopes tnat we had passed -by those days when such scenes of cruelty could be witnessed ; but from the evidence we have had before us this day , there is in this town a place in which human beings are confined , liie toe Biaek Hole at Calcutta , and which by the horrid details we hava heard , warrants the assertion , I fear , that it is equally revolting . The evidence of that yousg man , Boot , reminds one of the day of the
8 iciT = 2 u tyrant , Dionysins , who had a subterraneous ' ve formed , near wnich there wr « a place where he spent his time to hear and enjoy the moans and the Bufferings of his captives . Such it appeared was the rne as to this -prlBon . The persons who had the power to remove the evil were within tearing » f . the compliinh of these unfortunate and' snffering people . Gentlemen , as a native of this town , I feel de « p regret t *> 3 t such scenes of cruelty aDd infamy liave be ; n toleisled by men closely and intimately connected with rbis miserable den , who meat , to a cert-iin extent , be held responsible . The pnblic eye will bmcefortb be fied upon it , and the town will be relieved from the lonl disgrace which such a place could not fail to attach to it The building d <* es not appear to me to be
capable of being changed . It must be altogether removed . I cancoS but blame my fellow-townsmen for having t irmitted this nuisance for se many years . If complaints respecting it had not t 3 en stranded to , they onght to have been repeated from time to time until iha nuisance was removed . I am qaite certain tbat now no unnecessary delay will be EitSartrd to ex > et in the removal of this filthy and abominable place ; and I do firmly believe tbat toe men of Birmingham wfll ere long have this odium taken from them , though , in fact , nething can relieve them from the disgrace of the past . There was one scene I have witnessed during the case , which shocked human nature . One person coorec' d with ttis horrible place , during the inquiry Into theae revolting and enormous evils , stood with a smile upon
ios fase , leaving one to b 2 lieve that he can endure the stsgma witbout feeling the shame in -which he is placed . The Learned Counsel has said , " out of evil coHieth g ! x > i " true . The light ot day . the light ol the public , is let in npon this place . The public eye is fixed npon it , » nd it cannot mush longer exist- Gentlemen the over-Trhehninjf interest , the overwhelming jrablic interest connecled with this case , has drawn us all aside from ' " ie more immediste attsrjtlon to those points for your adjudication , namely , as to whether the prisoners committed the assault laid against them . Yon have had &b evldencs of the policeman , which has been eorro-\ crated by other evidence , and you must not , Gentlemen , permic yonr feeiiogs to warp your jndgment , or prevent you from giving a proper verdict , which you are rsrom to do . The learned Btcorder then recapitulated Kie leading pointa of the evidence , and thus t » ndnded
a lengthened , feeling , and powerful address , which created a remarkable sensation throughout the Court : —The unfortunate piisaners stand in a position which 1 frost no Englishman will ever again stand in . They stand in a situation that , if & verdict of guilty should bt > ir - " © rdrd rydnst them on tbis serious charge , they will rejoice ; for it will not draw down npon them a punish-Bientbui a reward . They rejoice that a conviction will obtain their relerw from a wretched dungeon , in which they were confined for so other offence than poverty . One « sn readily believe this , after the description of the place in which they were incarcerated , that they Would prefer their removal to a' Felon * Gaol t * remaining in the aisezablfi abode at the CovH of H 9 guest" 5 . - The priionen were &ond Guilty , and sentenced to Hare month ' s imprisonment in Warwick GaoL The Bsomler in passing wrtence « aid— That they were tt * B * to a £ f » ol where tbey troold be treated like
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men ; where tiieir spiritual 11 we'J as their temporal wants would be attended to . They would be treaUd likeimen , it was true , who deseived punishment ; but they would be treated in a manner far different from what had been their treatment , which he grieved to say had besn in a way is which men deserving the name of men could not find courage or serve enough to treat the brute creation . " The Times commenting on there atrocities very properly asks , " How many other such or the like abominations may be supposed to exist thronghout the kingdom ? This one waa only discovered by the accidental transgression of one of Its accustomed ftayB beyond the ordinary pretcribed limits of license and Hot But for
that we might never have beard of it How many more such " poor debtors' holes'" as this » re in operation throughout the kingdom ? Deprivation of personal liberty , discipline , restraint , correction—these are just and necessary measures of pnnishment ; and they may pooibly bs required in the case of debtors , whose inBolvency and liability is in many eases the resnlt of downright knavery , and in almost all , of a carelessness verging upon something like dishonesty ; but whether this be bo or not , it is most indisputably true that when deprivation of liberty becomes a burial alive in dirt and disease—when discipline ia exchanged for licenserestraint for riot—and correction for-encouragement in crime—it is a sheer impossibility for any good to result from the practice of ' impiiBenment for deb * *"
THJS DAMNABLE GAME LAWS . Perhaps there never wera in any country laws so wantonly insolent , and so impudently cruel , as the old game laws of this country . There never were laws which , despite of the moat effensive distinctions of caste and the most rigorous exactions of penalties , bo completely failed in effecting their purpose . They were designed to protect the patridges and pheasant , the bares , the rabbits , and the grouse , of the landed gentry > they levelled formidable punishments at the heads of poachers and the unqualified ; they visited witb implacable severity the buyers and sellers of game . Yet they were singularly unsuccessful . Game was killed by unqualified persons , snared by poachers , and bought and sold in the public streets of London . The
country gentlemen mmed ; the Hoase of Commons reseunded with patriotic jeremiads aga i nst the wickedness of poachers , the dissoluteness of " inferior tradesmen , " and the aristocratic propensities of village hinds . More than one Sir John rose to warn his fellow-senators of the evil day when the pbeasantry and squirearchy of England would perish by a common fate . New clauses were enacted ; the old act was amended . Yet , in spite of amendments &nd additions , the law remained harsh , exclusive , and inefficient Game still was killed or soared ; but , worse than this , gamekeepers were killed in its defence . Scarcely a month in winter pasted without some terrible conflict botween the poachers and the keepers ; and every assias teemed witfi a list of criminals whose guilt was their sullen indifference to the crime with which they were charged .
Such were the great and hideous evils of these laws . But , besides these , there wera others . Besides the sanguinary and savage frays which trutalised still more ths uneducated and the dissolute—besides the obnoxious and pitiful exclusivenejs which excited the indignation of men who neither ate nor shot pheasants , these laws induced the most paltry falsehoods , the most profligate and most general deception . To the atrocities of murder they added the meanness of fraud . While they forbade the sale of game , game was bonght and suld every where . The tradesman who endeavoured to be honest was discouraged ; and every poulterer who wished to retain his own cuBtom was forced to bs a customer of poachers . Men who would not for worlds have openly infringed the law gave a large , but collusive support , to its most desperate violators .
At last public opinion triumphed . All men and all classes of men became heartily ashamed of the condition into which the rural population was sinking . It was an auspicious era for a change . * * * A compromise was effected , and the 1 st and 2 nd Win . IT ., c . 30 , waa the result And what has been the effect of a measure which all predicted would put an end to the mischiefs and atrocities of the old system ? Alas for the sagacity of human councils , and the confidence of human prediction , and the axiomatic truths of political economy ! Game has been bought and sjld for twelve years , not
openly—for that it wn bafore—bnt legally . Yet , has popcbing ceased ? Have its worst concomitants disappeared ? Let the question be answered by ths case of the Knowsley paaefcers , and the murder of Lord Grantley's keeper ; and would that there were no other eases equally flagrant to give the lie to the assurances and the predictions with which the amended law was ushered into being . It needs only the superficial observation of the newspaper reader to see that the enormities which disgraced England before 1832 are recurring in 1844 , if not in equal numbers , at least with equal malignity .
Aid why is this ? Is it that men cannot reconcile with their notions of property the preservation of birds which disclaim the ties of locality—that they look upon animals "fera nalurm , " a * the prey of the first snare and the first fowling-piece ? Or , ii it only a symptom of that mingled poverty and discontent which elsewhere shows its baleful power in rustic conflagrations ? Djss the same spirit of irritated indigenc 9 and beggared pride which sets fire to the stack of the farmer also entrap the hare of the landlord ? Or is it , tall us , ye political economists , is it the competition in the game tufljEet which drives the poorer caterer from the field and compels him to supply by felony the demands of metropolitan luxury ?
Whatever be the cause of the evil , no one can deny tb . it a great evil does exist No one wno knows the rural districts , or reads tile reports of the assizss , can donbt the necessity of providing a speedy remedy for it . It ii a pleasant thing to eat partridges : bu ; we question wheihtr the digestion be improved by the reflection tbat the man who catered for us has been expatriated for his pains . —Titnet . The Condemned Poachebs—On Friday morning , the governor of Kirkdale Gaol received a communication from the Home-office , from which it appears that ths sentence of death passed at our late assizes , npon Henry Fillingham , James Hunt , Thos . Jacques , and Joseph Bimmer , for the murder of the Earl of Derby's gamekeeper , has been commuted to transportation for life . As a reprieve for John Roberts , convicted and sentenced to death for the same offence , has not reached , it is said that the extreme penalty of the law will be carried into effect upon that unfortunate man on Saturday nexi .
Poachebs . —Tbe public attention which bes lately bsen ait'actad to * he peaehers under sentence of death , bas naturally drawn consideration to the same subject By a Pariiamentvy document of l » st session , a raturn wes mmdb , showing in separate lists the names of all parsons killed or wounded in affrays with poachers in the years 1841 and 1842 , tbe counties in which such affrays have taken place , and the convictions thereon . It appears , tbat in the years mentioned no persons were killed , and only one person and his assistants wonnded on the Home Circuit On the Midland Circuit , two persons were killed and one wounded . There were eleven prisoners , none of whom were executed . On tbe Norfolk Circuit it does not appear that any person in tbe yeais mentioned had been killed or wounded .
On the Northern Circuit none were killed bnt nine were wounded . On tbe Oxford Circhit eight persons were wounded , none killed . The offenders were imprisoned and transported . On the Western Circuit four were wounded , none killed . On the North Wales Circuit , a gamekeeper named Gell was wounded by a poacher , who was transported foi fifteen years . On the Chester Circuit , Richard Chester , the gamekeeper , was reported as tilled , and the parties were not convicted when the return was made . On the South Wales Circuit , a person died from wounds by a gamekeeper , who was imprisoned for six months . It stems tbat only one pera&n was left for execution within tbe period of the return made by the clerks of the sevenl Assizes . A return is made from the different clerks ef the peaC 3 .
Elslet's Conjession . —Last week a man named J ^ mea £ isley was committed on the warrant of the cor-ner for West Surrey to take his trial for the murder of Lord Grantley'a gamekeeper near Guildferd . The accused made a voluntary confession as follows : — " On Frinsy f-vening I went home and took supper , but on entei ing the door I saw my son eating some victuals . 1 said to him , ' Where are you going to , Bill V He said , ' I am going to the riffle , and , father , will you come doiyn to take part of a pint of beer James Sherlock is going to give me ? ' 1 ate my supper and took a pint of half-and-half . —My son and me went home together , and -when we got indoors , he psked my wife for some vic . uals ; sbe said , "What do you mean by that ? You had your victuals before yon went out " She cut him a piece , and gave it him , and as soon as he bad undone hisshoes he went to bed . When he was gone , 1 r aid , How hard itis for us to be in such distress ; we have neither butter nor cheese , nor sugar ; and whether
she bad even tea I an ; nneertain ; for when we had our supper we had but a piece of bread each with a little tea , without sugar and milk , and I had spent the last 2 d . ws had ; so we were destitute , and it hurt my feelings ; so I said to my wife , I will go and get a bird or two , if I possibly can , for I cant bear to see such distress . " I went and ahot a brace of birds , and 1 thought if 1 could get a sale for them it would get a little tea and sugar . I was coming to the river when I met the keeper , and he said , ¦ D—n you , I have got you now . ' He then put up a stick and said , * D—n your eyes , I'D kill you , ' and he was going to strike me , but I pnshed and threw him down , and I said , We will fight life for life . ' I struck him with the butt-end of a gun several times ; the last time he fell into the river . I then went away , and left him . On going home , my wife said , Have you got anythingT I said , Ye *' She replied , 'I hope nothing will happen from this . ' I said something had already taken place . "
This statement may be false or true : but , if true , it plainly indicates that the cause of much poaching lies in poverty , which leads to what the poor conceive in the first instance to be no crime ; for poaching , like smuggling , 1 b seldom regarded by the commonalty as a moral crime . The murders in Inland are certainly of a most frightful rud appalling description ; but they sevcely exceed in turpitude the vast number of crimes that now almost nightly take place in England . A day does not pass but we bear of incendiarism or of deadly conflicts between poaehersand keepers ; and the origin of rrime
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in both CfUotries may be traced to destitution and poverty , and ts the deadly malice they engender . —Brighton Herald .
CRIME ; AND PRISON TOBTDRE . Epsom Police . —A Desperate Poacher . —Wm . Town , a muscular fellow , was brought up in the custody of a police sergeant and two gamekeepers , before Baron de Tetsler and H . Gorse , Esq ., charged with trespassing upon the lands of Mr . Trotter , M P . for the Western Division of Sorry , armed with a gun in pursuit of game , and also with an assault upon the kespera . It appeared from the evidence adduced , that on the night of the 8 th instant , Stone , one of Mr . Trotter's keepers , with some other persons , were on the look out in a Wood called Pond Wood , and they had not been there long before they beard tbe report of a gun . While they were proceeding in the direction whence tbe shot was fired , they beard a second report , and by the flash of the gun they snw the prisoner and some
other men . Stone immediately rushed upon him , and seized him , but he had hardly done bo before one of his companions raised a gun and struck a desperato blew at him . The keeper fortunatsly warded it off , and his head was only slightly grazed by the blow ; and the keeper ' s assistants coming up at the time the prisoner was secured , but his companions escaped . The prisoner , on being conveyed to the station-bouse , was recognized pi a notorious poacher . On the morning after tbe affray a search was made in the wood , when a broken stock of a gun , a dead pheasant , a cap , and ether articles were discovered , and the cap has been since identified as belonging to a man who hss since absconded . It was proved , in the courr ? of the evidence , that the gun-stock was broken by tbe force with which it was struck against the arm of the gamekeeper ; aud it appears almost providential that he wn not killed .
The magistrates convicted tbe prisoner of the trespsss , and sentenced him to tbrea months' imprisonment and hard labour , and ordered him to find bail to kesp the peace for twelve months . Warrants were issued for the apprehension of tbe prisoners' companions . Model Prisons for the Country . —Sir James Graham appears to have a vast liking " to be talked about , " as tbe following will show ;—He is proposing to the country magistracy tbe erection of a " model ' prison in every county ! His project has been discussed In Gloucestershire and Leicestershire , and treated as it deserved to be . It has been well observed that this project is too flattering for any Government , never , at the beat , the most disinterested class in tbe country , to
be discountenance 1 ; and the present Administration , in the person and department of Sir J . Graham , teems prepared to earry it out in its worst and m « st hateful form . Bat so long as men in this country prefer light to darkness , open inquiry and public scrutiny into their aetions and treatment of their fellow-creatures to the reverse of these ; in fact , to tbe revival of the Iuquisition adapted to modern times , so long we shall never fear the general establishment of model prisons throughout the country . Astonishment is manifested at tbe temerity of Sir . J . G . Graham , of which no parallel in the conduct of a ; . y Minister in this country can be rt collect ad , in presuming to require , or even recommend , the justices of a county to supersede all the prisons in it , and erect one or several at tbe cost of
£ 157 , 000 , npon a systim , too , which is yet upon trial , and bas not yet received the sanction of Parliament , and , it is to be hoped , never will . Tbe chairman of tbe Gloucester Quarter Sessiom , held ten days r ^ o , in reference to it , ea > . d , " Tbat tbs Government could not enforce the plan upon them , and the only way they could compel tbe county to bui ' . d a model prison was by Act of Parliament ; which , if the county Members did their duty , tbe Government could never obtain . " The present Home Secretary ' s prison " dietary - bas already stamped bis fame rs respects gaol discipline . Hear what Sir Peter Laurie , in a letter to the Leicestershire magistrates , says .- — " The Model Prison at Pentonville being a Government prison , I an unable to give you an opinion on anything but tbe system as a mode of imprisonment and not on the manner in wbish it is carried out at that place . I can , however , state , as President of Bethlehem Hospital , tbat although
every prisoner is carefully examined , and , indeed , selected with reference to bis health , two prisoners have become insane , and have been transferred from tbe Model Priron to Bethlehem . The Model Prison system of discipline was acted upon at the Milbank Penitentiary , and during tbe year before last nine prisoners were sent from that place te Bethlehem . We have received a great many prisoners from tbe Penitentiary , and we always have found that , by associating with others , they recovered rapidly . " Notwithstanding tbe full knowledge which the Government possess of these startling facts , they , through tbe Home Secretary of S ^ nte , recommend model prisons in every county ; but , it is to be hoped , the magistracy in every part will oppoce , by every means in vhe < r power , so alarming an innovation , and a constitution of " secret doings" for tbe present public proceedings—a description of despotism which makes one shuddor 1
Another Model Prison Maniac—Within tbe last few days another victim from this prison bas been sent to Betblt-hem Hospital . A convict named Cowle , sentenced to transportation in the spring of last year , and transferred to Pentonville , bas becsme insane , and has besn sent by an order from the Home Office to tbe Government department of the hospital . We should like to know whether this , which is tbe third case of insanity removed within one year , is that respecting which Mr . Wakley warned tbe keeper that tbe prisoner ' s brain waa softened , and tbat tbe portals of Bethlehem would soon open to receive him . "
Earnings of Convicts . —Among the Parliamentary papers of last session , several were presented on the subject of treatment of criminal prisoners aud their earnings . Two reports from Mr . Capper , tbe superintendent of tbe ships and vessels employed for tbe confinement of offenders under sentence of transportation , are very satisfactory documents respecting tbe bulks and the conduct of the inmates . It appears that on the 31 st . of December , 1842 , there were 3 , 954 convicts on board tbe balks in England , and of tbat number 1 739 had been convicted before , and 71 had been previously transported ; 1 , 548 were first offences . There were 1 , 154 of the 3 954 who could neither rtad nor write , and 1 , 044 who could only read . 2 . 074 of the prisoners had not
been instructed in any business . Of the whole number there were only four Jews . Tbe " living voice '' has reached the parties , and many have learned to read , and have partaken of the communion ; their conduct \ e eommendrd by tbe chaplains . Tbe expenses for the first six months in 1842 of the eight stations in England were £ 32 . 147 Os 5 d , whilst the total value of tbe labour performed was £ 37 . 699 2 » ; for the second six months the expences were £ 29 888 £ s 8 d , and the earnings £ 33 , 465 19 s . The cost of the establishment at Bermuda for six months was £ 12 , 684 8 b 4 d , aid tbe labour performed worth £ 15129 2 s . From the report respecting the Millbank prison it appears , that the committee do not approve of tbe " silent system . "
Crime in Worcestershire—From the commencement ef the year 1843 up to the present time , a period ef but twelve months , there have been not less than 700 prisoners whose names appeared for trial on tbe calendars of Worcester county assizes and sessions , ! Of these 700 prisoners only four bad received a superior education , and but twenty-nine could read and write well ; while 396 could read and write imperfectly , and no less than 941 had been totally denied both these valuable privileges . Concerning tbe attainments of tbe remaining thirty we have no means of knowing . — Worcester Journal .
working of tub devils law . Horrible Treatment of an A « ed Peasant — People tell us it is not so much the fault of the Poor Law Act that ach of brutality are perpetrated under its provisions , pi tbe individuals appointed to enforce its enpetments . This is literally throwing the whole blame on theGDurdinns for tbe numerous outragescommitted on a cla ~ s of personB whose only off-mce ia tbat of being poor and destitute . Let ns examine the Poor Law Act , end then scrutinize tbe dietary table , aud we have evidence enough to pronounce it one of tlie most
diabolical measures tbat ever received the sanction of Royalty : but if we trespass further , and inquire into it 3 actual working , we shall find it oppressive and arbitrary , and the losal authorities bo tyrannised over by the Somerset-house Bashaws , as scarcely to leave them a voice in parochial affairs ; and this state of \ things will continue until tbe potentates in tbe Strand are burled from power , and tbe management of the poor given up to individuals who on sympathize with their destitu ^ a neighbours , and minister to their wants in time of need . God knows we have no wish to return '
to the old system of governing tbe poor . It bad many and glaring faults , and was productive of much mischief ; but : we would so alter and adjust it to the present times as to render it palatable to the cess-payer and the recipient of parochial bounty . We know enough of Poor Law management to be satisfied tbat a body of individuals may be fed well and at a cheap rate , and at tbe same time encoure ^ ed in industrial pursuits ; wherer- iha present schema for reforming tbe condition of tbe pauper creates hatred towards his ruler , begets a system of wild revenge in the shspe of incendiarism , promotes idleness , and give rise to all the worst pensions of human nature . Let as examine tbe working of the Poor Law Act in the counUy . In another page we have traced the " the last days of an English peasant" A man more than ninety years of age , who had lived and worked all his life in the parish where he wn born ,
South Weald , Essex , was taken ilL He was relieved with a paltry allowance of money and bread by the Biliericay Union . This poor old shred of humanity was attended by two female neighbours , who rendered their gratuitous aid , but they could not continue to pay that attention to White ( the pauper ' B name ) that his state required , and therefore one of them waited on Mr . Alexander , tbe wlieving-offlcer residing at Ingrane , who ga / e her an order for Mr . Butler , the Union surgeon , to attend to tbe object of her solicitude . Mr . Butler saw tbe old man ! and told the nurse that medicine was of no use , be ( White ) must have all the nourishment be could get , but he gave no order for any ! As cond application wea made for nourishment , but none was obtained . Mr . Bernard , assistant-overseer , suggested that the old man should be removed to tfee Union , bnt White Bald he would rather stop another week in his poverty , for be bad a great honor of tbe workhorse .
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Wbita's nurses , two good homely creatures , feaiful lest they might hurt the old man ' s feelingB , never once alluded to the baatile in bis presence ; at length Bernard , the oveiseer , said , tbat " if the old man refused to go to the Union his allowance should be taken off !" To use White ' s own words , when the brutal order was communicated to him , he said , " Well , if I must , I mast ! " That night he was not sensible—life was fast ebbing—bat , at intervals , the dying man would matter prayers . The following morning a hone , dragging a cart , was driven to the door of White ' s humble dwelling ; he was t'fcenfrom his bed almost a corpse ; bis limbs were rigid and cold ; and , to
observations made to him , no reply could be elicited . Brandy-and-water wa raised to his lips , but death bad so firmly driven his dart into the heart of tbe old man that he was totally powerless . Daring this time the surgeon was present , and also the overseer , but neither of them had sufficient humanity running in the current of his composition to direct the non-removal of White . When the cart airived at the workhouse-gate the old man was taken out of it—he was in a dying state—the nurses pat him into bed , and covered him well over , but neither warmth nor stimulants were productive of any good result , for tbe old man died in a tew hours .
" 111 fares ths land—to hast ' ning ills a prey , Where wealth accumulates and men decay . " Here was a man who bad weathered upwards of ninety winters , at length driven to tbe workhouse to die . because tbe parish authorities were too inhuman or too niggardly to afford him a few little comforts at borne . While it is painful to think of this poor old man ' s sufferings , it is not less bo to look upon tbe conduct of tbe overseer and surgeon ; We envy not the feelings of either . They appear to us to be just suited to the situation they occupy ; and men of Ie 38 feeling would
not perform tbe duty to the satisfaction of the parish and the Poor Law Commissioners . It is ho longer a matter of wonder that men and women in poverty bave bo great a dread of the union , when they find human flesh and blood treated with as little ceremony as the very beast that is sacrificed for our daily food . There is a feeling of deep-rooted hatred against " the Union , " and these monstrous acts of inhumanity will do more towards sealing tbe doom of the Somerset-bouse mr ~ - nates than any thing else . God help the poor' say we , who are so unfortunate as te belong to the Billeriny Union . — Weekly Dispatch .
DESTFTUTION IN THE METROPOLIS . Worship-street . —On Monday , two wretched , attenuated little boys , named William and John Hoscroft , tbe first twelve and the last ten years of age , were charged before Mr . Broujhton with stealing a cowheel , valued 5 d . George Kemp , a policeman , stated , that while on doty in Pitfield-atreet , Hoxton , on Saturday evening , at six o'clock , be saw tbe boys looking in at tbe window of a cbeesemongers's shop . Being noticed by tbe cheesemonger , they moved on to a tripe-shop , when , after a little hesitation , the eldest of tbe two took a cowheeloffa board in tbe front of the window , and ran round tbe corner of the street , followed by the other . On coming up with them , and taking them inta custody , be found both boys eagerly devouring the halfcooked cowheel . Mr . Broughton inquired , if any of the officers knew them ?
Clements , the warrant-officer , said be did , and had known tbe family for many years . Tbe father , who was a very sober and well-conducted man , had been an old soldier , but , being discharged from tbe army on a pension , afterwards entered the police force , in the H division , in which he served very creditably for several years ; but six years ago he died , and left his widow with nine children to provide for ; and although he ( Clements ) bad seen nothing of them lately , he believed they had been very badly off . Mr . Brougbton said , that judging from tbe nppearance of tbe children , there could be no deubt they bad committed tbe robbery from want , for two more perfect skeletons he bad never seen . The worthy magistrate then ordered Clements to provide tbe boys witb a meal , and , giving him five shillings from the poor-box for the immediate lelief of tbe family , desired him to make inquiry into the state of their affairr .
Clements in a few hours after stated , tbat be bad been to tbe boys' residence , No . 2 , Pool ' s Place , Quakerstreet , Spltalfields , and found tbe whole family in tbe greatest stats of misery . He found tbe mother and six children at borne , literally jammed together in a small back room , in which be might almost say there was no furniture at alt , there being only two rush-bottomed chairs without seats , a small deal table witb two of its legs broken , and a broken cup and saucer . There was scarcely a spark of fire in the grate , and in one
corner of the room were as many old rags as a woman could oarry away in her apron , which served the whole family for a bed , and tbe only covering they had at night was the mother ' s and children ' s s <* -, nty clothing . Tbe poor woman told him she bad been obliged to sell her bed last year for food ; her Bheets she bad left at a provision-shop as security for tbe value of some victuals tbe shopkeeper bad let her bave ; and , in short , she had been obliged to make away with everything she possessed except what tbe officer saw , and what sbe and ber children bad on .
Mr . Broughton , who expressed great sympathy for tbem , on hearing this , instantly ordered tbe requisite money to bj advanced from the poor-box , and directed Clements to go forthwith and release the poor woman ' s sheets for her , buy her a good bed , blankets , and coverlid , and give ber tickets for coala and enough br 6 ad for the family , and said he would see if something permanently beneficial could not be done for tbem . Clement * immediately left tbe court to fulflt the worthy magistrate's dire stions . Inquests on Paupers . "—The St . Pancras WORT 1 ES AGAIN ! — Our readers will remerni . er tbe horrible farthing shirt case , tbe publintien of
which—• ' damned to everlasting fame " the Radical (?) Guardians of S * - Panoras . But not content with the odium they have already achieved , they are playing new pranks , calculated to render them tbe disgust and scorn of the country . Last Friday an inquest w : - held on tbe body of a St Pancras' pauper , per in which Mr . Wakley t shaved with becoming spirit and with bis usual aoutenass . This very extensive and affluent parish has made an important alteration iu the practice of summoning Coroners' Inquests . A Churchwarden , one Mr . Howarth , moved that tbe Beadles shall be no longer allowed to call a Coroner ' s Inquest , but tbat the higher officers of tbe workhouse should alone have this power ; and here is a ehort passage from bis exceedingly unwashed speech : — " It was
a monstrous t h ingto allow a clr ~ a of officers who filled tbe lowest situations—be meant beadles—to be sole judges of tbe necessity of holding inquests on persons dying in tbat workhouse . Tbe beadle received a fee upon every inquest , and bo did tbe Coroner ; and thus they were mutually interested in not passing over aDy case which afforded a colourable pretext tor holding one . " If tbe beadles are not to be the sole judges of the necessity of bavin ? an inquest , what other judges can be found ? The fea system here happens to be the best , and certainly there is no substitute . Tbe beadles bave an interest in bringing cruel cases to light before a Coroner ' s Inquest , and the beads of workhouse establishments have another interest in concealing cases of death occasioned by their own cruelties . The
aristocratic principle of confining tbe power of summoning Coroner ' s Inquests to the superior officers of tbe purifh , most strange to say , is the project ef the ulcra-Kadicals (?; . So far from there being aDy pretence for transferring tbe practice of summoning Coroners' Inquests to the higher authorities of this most extensive parish , on account of tbe beadles calling unnecessary inquests for the sake of fees , it appears tbat they have called few or no inquests at all . In five years tbe Coroner hn held but twenty-eight inquesH , and this is one of the largest workhouses in Eugland . Mr . Wakley , in his address to tbe Coroner ' s Jury , very sensibly says" If 1 see tbat tbe consequence of this resolution is what I expect , —tbe concealment of the deatbs of paupers in
the workhouse , —I stall be i"ider tbe necessity of placarding the neighbourhood to tell the poor to Hform me of tbe deaths of their friends and relatives in tbe werkhouse , and every time I receive notice of a death , I will , if I think fit , hold on inquest ; and if I bid refused admittance into the workhouse , I will eutar by force—( bear ) . I will not allow the duties of my office to be obstructed either by political friends or enemies . A great part of my office is to protect the poor by holding inquests on those who die , snd ascertaining whether death bas been caused by neglect or ill-treatment on the part of the parish authorities . I ask you , ther . fore , whether it is right that your parish authorities should constitute themselves judges in their own ce ? ' Tbe deceased ' s name was John Say .
William Morison , a pauper , examined—I saw deceased alive at nine o'clock 911 Sunday night , saying bis prayers . He w& 3 subject to fits ; bad one in the night , and was found dead in bed , lying on bis face , on Monday morning . There were seventeen beds in the ward in which deceased was , and two persons in each bad , bat there was no one to watch the inraatsa at night . He bad known deceased bave two fits in one and tho same nigh * Deceased had tumbled out of bad during one of these fits , bnt not lately . When be had those fits nobody in authority came to bis assistance .
Tbe Coroner—This is very strange way of proceeding , and I think we are getting to a very singular pa is in this country , so much neglect is there shown of tbe poor . Nobody to give assistance , or call for assistance , when tbis poor man bad fits by night . If a man ' s servant slept in a stable in which there were horses , and one of tbem should fall down in a fit , or place itself in a position to be suffocated , and if tbe servant did not go to the animal ' s assistance or raise an alarm , what would bis master say to him in the morning J Mr . Tiffin , who gave yon information of this r-. se ? Tiffin—I think the medical man after be came to the workhouse . Coroner ( to witnets)—Was there ny more in tbe ward t Witness—No . Coroner—I could net believe tb ' a unless I beard it sworn to .
A Juror—Might not tbe man whilst in a fit have turned over on his face and smothered himself ? Coroner—Very likely . Children are often suffor . tsd in that way . < To Mr . Stewart , the overseen—There are seventeen beds end two person in each bed in a ward ; is there so person in authority pl « ad over them by night ?
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Mr . Stewart—The persons sre thought capable of taking care of themselves . The Coroner—In conr-qnence of what { has been now stated , I think we most bave the body opened to see whether the deceased died of suffocation or from natural caatee . Tiffin—Deceased bad been subject to fits for many years . Tbe Coronet—And therefore the greater tbe necessity for having some one to look aftar him . The jury having decided that tbe body should be opened , the inquiry was adjourned to Monday , The inquiry was resumed on Monday . Henry William ( Morrison stated , that be is an inmate of St . Pancras . workhouse . He saw the deceased on Sunday , the 1 lth j instant , at eleven o ' clock at night He was then undressing . After he bad been in bed a short time , be bad a fit , as witness jadgrd , by bis cries . Witness did not call the nurse when tbe deceased bad
tbe fit . The Coroner—If any one was taken dangerously ill daring tbe night , to whom woald yoa apply 7 Witness—I should go to tbe nurse in the ball . Tbe Coroner—Is she there daring tbe night ? Witness—No , sjr . By the Coroner—Has slept In tbe watd three months . There is no one in particular to whom be should apply in cases of sudden illness . The witness himself here fell down in an epileptic fit of a very severe nature , and win obliged to be taken out of tbe room . ; Tbe Coroner—Well , gentlemen , the illness of that man will shew you what attendance a person requires during a fit . ¦
Mr . Cooper , the surgeon to tbe workhouse , Btited tbat he believed tbat a person named Lloyd was appointed to look after the different words , and if any one was sick , sbe first saw tbem herself , and then etnl tor him . John Simpson fsaid the nurse of No . 1 ward is very kind . Had never beard any directions given tbat in cases of eudden illness they were to apply to any one at all . ¦ ¦ Mr . Cater—Have yea bad any quai / el witb Lloyd or bis wife ? Witness . —No . ] Tbe Coroner . —Can yon prove any ill-treatment against Lloyd and his wife .
Witness . —Yes- daily . They had frequently struck the dececsed and knocked him about . He bad seen the braises on tbe person of deceried , who never complained . Had seen him struck un the Bide , and not on the bead . He used to be very troublesome before tbe fits came on . Tbe rest of the paupers refaEed to let him Bit at table with tbem for fear of a fit coming on . They used to abuse him , and Mrs . Lloyd joined them in doing eo . Mr . Cooper—Why did you not complain ? Witness—O . ' the less one » ys in tbat boose tbe better .
Erasmus Wilson said , tbat ho is consulting surgeon of St . Pancras . He was not consulted as to the illness of tbe deceased . Has made a post mortem examination of the body . Externally it appeared r ; if tbe party bad died by violent means , such as suffootion . Internally the symptoms and appearances were mien as led him to persist in bis belief , and from what be bad beard in evidence , he believed that the deceased was suffocated by placing bis face ion tbe pillow during an epileptic fl * Tbe chest wai peculiarly narrow , much more so than tbe hips . Witness considers that tbe lunga had net sufficient room to act , and tbat fact woald assist considerably towards bis being suffocated with tbe assistance of some external object All persons in epileptic fits endeavour to turn on their faces , and if tbey are fn bed , suffocation sometimes ensues . It is a very common case .
Tbe Coroner then addressed the Jury , and cited two singular cases of suffocation produced by very slight external means , . a ..-1 he room was then cleared for the discussion of the case by the Jury . In about three minutes the door was opened , and tbe Jury returned the following verdict : —" That tbedeceaned was found dead in bed , and tbat be died from suffocation occurring to him during an epileptic fit from want of proper attendance on him during ths timi of the fit . " \
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vation , " which it ia annecejaary to repeat He thri concludes" These are not now , we are sorry to say , isolated , or even particularly uncommon cases . Yet the Ia ~ t was discovered only by tbe police ; and the first through tbe agency of the criminal magistrate . Can it be possible , we ask , that tbe laws regulating the treatment ef the poor can be otherwise than most flagitiously defective , when , we do not say , such events as these simply occur , bat when tbey occur without even tbe cogniaince of the laws intended" to prevent tbem ? Ia it meant to be asserted that no BjBtem of legislation could to
framed which woald bave prevented these two esses from occurring ? ' If bo , how is it tbat another and a different system of law , tbat of our criminal police , '« found to be efficient in their discovery , and , if it might bave been , in their prevention ? Sore we are that in ho Christian country onght it to be within the bounds of average possibility , that the poor should perish in the streets . Bat if tbe only ostensible relief ia avowedly , as well ? s really , not a charity , but a punishment , it ? a not likely tbat resort should be bad to it until the lest moment , or ( consequently ) that ite first effect in operation should be the fall and free extension of relief , and tbe prevention of destitution . "
INCKND 1 ART FIRES . Early in the evening of Monday , a fire broke out npon the farm of Mr . Riseley , at Great Barford , Beds , and a great quantity of the produce of h'S farm was consumed . A servant girl , through spite , set fire to some premises in this village a few days ago , and some miscreant has too readily followed her example . About tour years ago Mr . Riseley had nearly the whole of his farm buildings and stock burnt by an incendiary fire .
Sandwich . —Between one and two 0 clock on Wednesday morning a fire was discovered on the premises of Mr . Buddie , at Haraden , near Eastry , whioh in a very short space of time extended to the whole of a large double-floored barn , containing about twelve quarters of wheat , some peas , beans cloverseed , and a stack ot oats , which had been carried into it on Monday last . The whole is amply insured , and there is no doubt of its being the act of an incendiary . —Maidstone Gazette .
Alarming Firb at Ipswich . —On Tuesday morning , between tbe hours of twelve and one , the inhabitants of Ipswich were aroused from their slumbers by loud and continuous cries of " Fire . ' " and most urgent appeals for help . Bells and knockers were suddenly and violently sounded to give the alarm , while a lurid flame lighted up the atmosphere and painfully added weight to the cry— » The White Hart is in flames ! for God ' s sake , get up and help us ! " On proceeding to the spot , at about a quarter to one o ' clock , we found a range of stabling , running parallel with the back of the dwelling-house , and nearly eighty feet iu length , rapidly being consumed . At this time one engine only ( the Tower ) was playing . Contiguous to the north end of the stabling are Mr . Ray ' s extensive premises , built in this place of lath and
plaster—these were soon burnt through in severel places ; at the south end the stabling joined Mr . Hooker ' s ( chemist ) warehouse , containing large quantities of inflammable materials . Shortly after two other engines arrived , the Suffolk Fire Office & the Clement ' s . The hose of tho former was taken through Mr . Ray ' s private passage-way , in Tavernstreet , and most effectively hemmed in the flames : the St . Clement ' s engine also powerfully co-operated with it , by playing principally on the gable end of Mr . Ray ' s premises ; while the Tower engine wa 3 employed fn preventing the ignition of Messrs Smith ' s , Hooker ' s , and Conder ' s premises . Providentially there was scarcely any wind at the time , and after about two hours' persevering exertion sll fear of further calamity was removed . It has not been ascertained by what means the straw became ignited—Ipswich Express .
A shed of teasels , the property of Mr . John Pimm , of Ashton-gate , Bedmin 3 ter , Gloucestershire , w ? q last week wilfully fired by some dastardly inceadiary , and the who ' o property destroyed .
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Carlisle . —meeting op the council op the Carlisle Chartist Association . —The members of this body held tbeir usual weekly meeting , at their roem , No . 6 , John-street , Caldewgate , on Sunday last After transacting some business connected with the Executive , subacripMons were received from tbe various localities , for the use of the Asseciatior . Thirty-eight Star papers were presented to the ConncH to be sent to Ireland . Working Men ' s Mental Improvement Society . — On Sunday evening next , Mr . Muir wi'l bring forward a memorial , for the adoption of the members , in behalf of Messrs . Paterson and others , who bave been prosecuted and most severely punished in Scotland for selling what tbe authorities have been pleased to term blasphemous publications . We hope there will be a good muster .
Mr . Bright in Carlisle . —As might be expected on tbe present occasion , every exertion was made long previous to tbe tea-party taking place , to make the muster as large and respectable as possible : placards and small bills were widely circulated through all parts of the town and neighbourhood , and flaming advertisements set forth in both tbe Carlisle newspapers ; yet notwithstanding all this expense and exertion , tbe meeting was a miserable failure . Covers were laid for five hundred , but at no time did tbe number present exceed more than three hundred . A great portion of the tickets were given by tbe master manufacturers and others to that portion of their workpeople who were ready . to do any dirty wotk for their employers . On
the platform we observed a much smaller master than usual ; indeed , there were only three or four individuals of any note : the Chairman , Mr . Joseph Ferguson , manufacturer , Mr . Peter Dixon and his son , Mr . P . S . Dixon , Mr . Bright , and one or two others . Tbe Chairman , after a abort speech , introduced Mr . Bright . Mr . Bright spoke for nearly two hours . His speech was completely devoid of argument , and consisted of a mass of vague assertion , unsupported by facts . He pretended to dispose of the fallacies of the monopolists , while be forgot to tell the meeting tbat he and his party are , and have been , the greatest of all monopolist" In speaking of tbe rate of wages , Mr . Bright observed , tbat tbe
manufacturers paid a higher rate of wages than the agricultamts , who , be said , paid their labourers at a miserably lew rate . He said there was not a female in his employ , young or old , who did not average , one with the other , eleven shillings and eleven-pence psf week . Here a person , near the platform , inquired of Mr . Bright bow tbe females , be alluded to , were engaged ? but in place of receiving that courtesy from the chairman which every well-conducted person , asking a question for information , is entitled to ; he was treated witb the greatest rudeness . This was the signal for a most intolerant and savage outburst on the part of the base and drawling serfs of tha master manufacturers , who with the most diabolical yells , cried ,
'' put him out ! put him out ! down with htm , " < kc , and actually rose from tbeir seats , for the purpose of laying violent bands on the individual who asked tb « question ; and who they would not have scrupled te assassinate , bad they not bad tbe fear of the law before their eyes . Mr . Bright was proceeding on very smoothly without having answered the question , when the same Individual , nothing daunted , reiterated tbe question , and Mr . Bright , at last ashamed of tbe behaviour of his friends , answered the question by stating that the females be alluded to as earning 11 s lid per week , were engaged as piecers , frame workers , powerloom tenders , &o . Now if Mr . Bright here stated the truth , which we very much question , what does it prove ? Why , that those around him on tbe platform , and indeed all the manufacturers in tbis district , are in
tbe habit of robbing their workpeople to an enormous amount . There are no such wages paid to females herehalf the amouufc is nearer tbe truth . We most notice a remark of Mr . Pd ; ter Dixon ' a to the effect tbat , " he believed such men as Cobden , Bright , and others , who were striving for a repeal of the Corn Laws , had been sent by Ood , for tht achievement of this great object . " Why are such men as Pateraon , Southwell , Holyoake , and others tried and punished for blasphemy , and this said Mr . Dixon allowed to escape , whilst he utters sach disgusting stuff as this ? There is one point of importance we mast mention . Previoas to tbe meet * ing the following letter was handed in to the chairman , but which be carefully concealed , except making a few on the platform acquainted with its contents , and but for wkicb the Chartists woald very likely have come in for tbeir usual share of abase : —
" Carlisle , January 8 , 1844 . "Sir , —Seeing that yea are appointed chairman of the Anti-Corn Law tea party this evening , to be held at the Athei » um , for the purpose of aiding the League Fund ; and , knowing that attacks have frequently been made at similar tneetiogB against individuals of tbe Cbartist body , implicating the whole party , we beg leave to state , that if either Mr . Bright , or any ether who may address the meeting , should make an attack on our party , Individuals will be present who will most assuredly repel such attacks . No screen of " private meeting" or " tea party" shall shelter you against being replied to , in case they should attack us .
"As , however , Mr- Brigbt'a great object must be to establish the truth of tbe doctrines be preaches , be win not , we are sore , have any objection to bold a Public Meeting , for openly discussing tbe subject of a Repeal of tbe Corn Laws . If bo . we shall feel bsppT to meet htm at any time or place be may appoint for that purpose . Admission Free . " We remain your obedient servants , " On behalf of tbe Chartists of Carlisle , " James Artusk . " J . B . HaNSOS . " HENRY BOWJiAN . "
We need hardly say that tbe challenge bas not been accepted . Will some of yonr Rechdale Correspondent * give as some account of this Mr . Bright and bis rate tf wagea ? If bo , let them write to Mr . H . Bowmm , No . 21 , Union-street , Butcher-gate , Carlisle ,
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Death from Starvation— An inquest was held on Monday , before Mr Payne , city coroner , at the West London Union West-street , Sruitbflcld , concerning tbe death of a man ; who bad given hit name Dominick Cousins , aged 58 , and who died in the above workbouse on Friday last , under circumstances of extreme destitution , as detailed in the following evidence : —
On the jury proceeding to the dead-house to view tbe body , its emaciated appearance seemed to create a feeling of horror ; in tbe minds of all present ^ Tbe corpse was literally all skin and bone , and it could not be wondered at that life should be no longer sustained . Police-constable Joseph DunDey , No . 258 , stated tbat about three o'clock en Thursday afternoon last , deceased came to the station-bouse iq Suiitbfield , joat at the time witness was taking in a prisoner . He asked leave to come into the station-house and lie down . Witness told him tbat be could not be allowed , and directed deceased to go to tbe workhouse in West Sruithfield . Witness subsequently took deceased to the workhouse . That was only a few minutes afterwards . He told witness that he had a wife in a madhouse . He said also that be waa a cabinet-maker and
a foreigner . George Henry Davies , a porter at tbe West . London Union workhouse , said tbat be saw deceased on his being brought in , and was witb htm up to tbe hour of bis death , which took place about seven »' clock the following ( Friday ) morning . Deceased bad some tea and bread aud butter , and was put to bed almost as soon as he was brought to tbe workhouse . He appeared to be dreadfully ill , and in a very emaciated state . He could hardly speak , and gasped for breath . By Mr . Ray's order , the parish surgeon , he bad several glasses of port wine , and also some medi cine given him . } Mr . Ray attended him several times in tbe course of Thursday night . At first be appeared to rally , but be gradually sank , and every effort to save him proved ineffectual . Deceased evidently died from exhaustion . .
After a discussion of several minutes , tbe jury returned a verdict— " Tbat tbe deceased had died from natural causes (?) but produced by the want of tbe common necessaries of life . " The Tim : s of Wednesday , in commenting on the above horrible cases , thus indignantly and eloquently denounces the crimes of the rich , and pleads for trampled on poverty : — " Tbe Times of yesterday contained two accountsone of crime , tbe other of death—from sheer , gaunt , horrible starvation . Tbe details of the two cases of coarse form the [ essential part of tbat strong damning witness , which they bear against the fashionable quack * policy of tbe age : —but the mere fact of their existence is bad enough . I
" The mere fact of such cases as these being to be met with is often treated as a very light matter , or , at best , as an unavoidable evil . A poor creature , people say , bas been unfortunately starved to death , and tbey attribute it to the prevalence of destitution or tbe rigour of the season , and tbey speak of it as though no one were to blame—& % though no one weie responsible for such a thing having happened . They treat it in tbe same light as the Admiralty regards tbe grievances of a naval officer , or as the Pennsylvanians do Sidney Smith ' s pecuniary misfortunes—as an unfortunate matter , but which cannot be helped . Tbey do not even think tbat any public responsibility is incurred , or tbat any public luuctionary or system is to blame for not having prevented it Nothing , tbey say , can altogether stop these lamentable occurrences . Such misfortunes are tbe lot of human nature , and no one is to blame because they are not altogether put an end to .
" Now , certainly it must be admitted that tbesa misfortunes are tbe lot of hurnsn nature . True it is , that' poverty shall never cease from the earth ;'' and most true , that as long as poverty shall last , so long shall pain and disease and death follow inevitably in its train . But ia tbis a reason why charity is to cease , or suffering to wknt its consolation , or disease its cure , or death , if it may be , its prevention or alleviation ? Rather is it not a reason , 1 b it not precisely the reason , why charity also should never fail , but endure as unbendingly as the ! want and suffering which call her into existence ? But the excuse is an easy one—complete success is impossible ; therefore , do nothing ; let things alone . :
" If a poor creature proves , by actually suffering death from starvation , that no idleness , no wilful improvidence , no mere disgust , even at th « bard terms upon which public support is offered ( or supposed to be offered ) to him , is tbe cause of his remaining in want and suffering , then people immediately say that the real destitution is alarmingly great ; that much is done to alleviate it ; that there are laws intended " for tbe relief ot the pour ; " but that it is impossible to meet
every case . Nothing then do we bear of poverty being to be treated ri a crime , or of the necessity of forcing the poor to maintain themselves ; on tbe contrary , it is said tbat poverty is an evil altogether invincible , and it is quietly assumed tbat we are , as a people , the moat charitable and liberal people in existence , bat tbat , witb all our efforts , we ore quite unable , —poor unfortunate helplen inuoconts!—to carry out our exertions into complete success . " Now turn to tbe other side of the picture . A helpless old man of eighty , or perhaps a man and bis wife , apply ( before they have starved to death ) for parish assistance , for a shilling or two a week , to enable them to { drag oat the scanty remainder of their existence . What is the reply?—Yoa must be
separated , and come into the workhouse . Yea are not , it is Irue , able to work now ; but you ones were so ; aud if we spare you the punishment deserved by your wilful want of foresight in not saving enough for your own present living , we aball encourage others who now can work and lay by to expect a similar indulgence ; the gift is therefore refused . Poverty is tortured and disciplined , even in this , the last stage of its wretched existence , npon tbe express assumption tbat it is , —not the inevitable lot of human nature , —not tbat stern overpowering necessity which , do what we will , we cannot altogether root oat or overcome ; no , —bat that it is in every case aelf-oaased , and may therefore safely be treated aa a condition from which the sufferer has tbe powet . if he bald only the will , to escape . How very consistent are tbe two lines of argument I " Tbe writer then recapitulates the leading facts of the Worship-street case , and tbe " Deatb from Star .
Cftarifct Finteuwnce.
Cftarifct finteUwnce .
Untitled Article
6 T n fi N O p T H F , R N S T A ft January 20 , 1844 .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 20, 1844, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1248/page/6/
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